HR and payroll software company Cascade has expanded its Leeds-based HQ onto a second level after a high-growth run.

Following this, the firm is also embarking on its biggest ever recruitment drive to fill the new space and fuel further expansion.

Established in 1994, Cascade started out as a four-strong team based in Pudsey. Following 20 per cent annual growth for nine successive years, the tech brand was then acquired by IRIS Software Group in April 2014.

The move took the business to an organisation with collectively more than 1,000 employees. With a mission to liberate UK companies, it has grown to provide payroll technology to 14 per cent of the nation’s organisations, whilst taking the pain away from HR processes in 1,600 firms.

This ongoing development of Cascade prompted Leeds’s largest out-of-town office deal of the year in late 2015.

At the time, CEO Oliver Shaw signed up for 16,122ft of space at One City West Business Park, to accommodate what he knew would be an ever-increasing headcount. Now the search is on to fill 55 new jobs.

“We were keen to procure premises that would pave the way for even more employees to join us,” said Shaw.

“Only 18 months later we’re set to fill two thirds of the additional room that we have.”

Cascade’s expansion onto the second – previously unoccupied – floor of its HQ, has created desk space for up to 85 people, as well as additional meeting and breakout rooms.

“This is a very exciting time for our growing software business,” continues Shaw.

“Leeds is becoming something of a development hub for our entire brand.

“There is a great talent pool in the city which, coupled with our commitment to developing great people, means we can nurture some incredibly capable tech and customer service brains.

“We employ 140 people here in Leeds alone and are proud that, throughout the Group we’re becoming renowned as a sector of excellence.”

With two software products – Cascade and CascadeGo – the company can support organisations with anything from 1-10,000 employees.

The customer base includes well-known household names including Randstad, Everton Football Club and Lindt.